264 GAME-BIEDS OF INDIA 



The most common means adopted to snare them is by nooses 

 laid at the regular drinking-places, in the same way that all the 

 other Sand-Grouse are taken. 



The following excellent account of these birds in captivity is 

 given by Mr. Barnby Smith in the ' Avicultural Magazine.' 



The habits of the Painted Sand-Grouse were from the first 

 strikingly different from those of the Pintail. When the latter were 

 frightened their instinct was to fly, whereas the Painted Sand-Grouse 

 crouched all together in a corner as though it was their nature to 

 seek cover ; although as a fact, there was no cover there. 



I accordingly provided them with another enclosure very similar 

 to the first, except that nearly all the floor space was covered with 

 tussocks of grass, small box bushes, dwarf juniper, etc., of course 

 with sandy spaces at intervals. I found the birds always loved to 

 lie in the sun near a tussock of grass, and would be seen to have 

 moved their position several times a day so as to get full sunshine. 

 This surjjrised me, as they are said to be crepuscular and nocturnal 

 in habit. Their large staring black eyes would quite give one this 

 impression. Whatever they do by night, their habits by day are 

 most unexpected, and they justify their common name of ' painted ' 

 in an extraordinary manner, for they might as well be merely painted 

 birds as far as any movement can be observed in progress. One 

 might go to look at them half a dozen times a day for weeks without 

 seeing them making any movement. The seed put down vanishes, 

 and the birds keep a good gloss on their feathers and appear to be in 

 excellent health. Very occasionally one may be seen moving, but 

 the same instant the bird will catch sight of you and draw in its 

 head and remain squatting motionless, however long you remain to 

 watch. If approached within a couple of feet, however, the bird 

 will attempt to fly, with its wild alarm note of yek-yek-yek," and 

 land behind another tuft of grass. After one attempt to fly, if again 

 approached, it will permit itself to be handled. It is said that bird- 

 catchers in India take these Sand-Grouse by approaching them under 

 cover of leaves and dropping a net suspended at the end of a bamboo. 

 Having seen the birds themselves I can readily imagine the 

 possibility of such a method of capture. 



" To make up for their uninteresting habits, it must be conceded, 

 however, that the Indian Painted Sand-Grouse have most exquisitely 

 marked plumage, the markings on the cock especially being most 

 striking. Even in rough grass they are very difficult to see at short 

 distance, but our Enghsh grass is too green to hide them perfectly. 

 I should imagine that in their native haunts they will form a perfect 

 example of obliterative coloration." 



